Sultanate of Sulu

سلطنة سولو دار الإسلام Royal Sultanate of Sulu Dar al-Islam
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Flag
Map showing the extent of the Sultanate of Sulu in 1822
Capital		Astana Putih Maimbung(1878) Palawan(1893)[7]
Languages		Arabic (official), Tausug, Bajau, Bisaya, Banguingui, Malay languages
Religion		Sunni Islam
Government		Monarchy
Sultan
-	1457–80	Sharif ul-Hashim of Sulu
-	1480–1505	Sultan Kamalud-Din
-	1505–27	Sultan Amirul-Umara
-	1893–99	Jamal ul-Kiram I
-	1974 - 1986	Mahakuttah Kiram (appointed monarch)
History
-	Ascension of Rajah Baginda	1405
-	Dissolution of Sultanate	1915
Currency		No official currency, the Barter system was used
Today part of		Indonesia Malaysia Philippines

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The Sultanate of Sulu Dar al-Islam^{[note 1]} (Jawi: سلطنة سولو دار الإسلام) (Arabic: سلطنة سولو‎) was an Islamic Tausūg^{[note 2]} state that ruled over many of the islands of the Sulu Sea, parts of Mindanao and certain portions of present-day Sabah (then North Borneo).^[8]

The sultanate was founded in 17 November 1405.^{[9][note 3]} by a Johore-born Arab explorer and religious scholar Sayyid Abu Bakr Abirin^{[note 4]} after he settled in Banua Buansa Ummah (ummah is an Arabic term for "community"), Sulu. After the marriage of Abu Bakr and local dayang-dayang (princess) Paramisuli, he founded the sultanate and assumed the title Paduka Mahasari Maulana al Sultan Sharif ul-Hāshim.

At its peak, it stretched over the islands that bordered the western peninsula of Mindanao in the east to Palawan in the north. It also covers the area in northeastern side of Borneo, stretching from Kimanis in now Sabah, to Tepian Durian in now Kalimantan.^[10][11]

History

Pre-establishment

Map of the Sulu Archipelago

The earliest known settlement in the areas soon to be occupied by the sultanate was in Maimbung, Jolo. During these times, Sulu was called Lupah Sug.^[12] The Principality of Maimbung, populated by Buranun people (or Budanon, literally means "mountain-dwellers"), was first ruled by a certain rajah who assumed the title Rajah Sipad the Older. According to Majul, the origins of the title rajah sipad originated from the Hindu shri paduka, which symbolizes authority.^[13] The Principality was instituted and governed using the system of rajahs. Sipad the Older was succeeded by Sipad the Younger.

During the reign of Sipad the Younger, a mystic^[14] named Tuan Mashā′ikha^{[note 5]} arrived in Jolo in 1280 AD.^{[note 6]} Little is known to the origins and early biography of Tuan Mashā′ikha, except that he is a Muslim "who came from foreign lands" at the head of a fleet of Muslim traders,^[15] or he was issued from a stalk of bamboo and was considered a prophet, thus well respected by the people.^[16] Other reports, however, insisted that Tuan Mashā′ikha together with his parents, Jamiyun Kulisa and Indra Suga, were sent to Sulu by Alexander the Great (who is known as Iskandar Zulkarnain in Sejarah Melayu).^[13] However, Saleeby dismisses this claim by concluding that Jamiyun Kulisa and Indra Suga were mythical names.^[16] According to tarsila, during the coming of Tuan Mashā′ikha, the people of Maimbung worshipped tombs and stones of any kind. After he preached Islam in the area, he married Sipad the Younger's daughter, Idda Indira Suga and bore three children:^[17] Tuan Hakim, Tuan Pam and 'Aisha. Tuan Hakim, in turn, begot five children.^[18] From the genealogy of Tuan Mashā′ikha, another titular system of aristocracy called "tuanship" started in Sulu. Apart from the Idda Indira Suga, Tuan Mashā′ikha also married into another "unidentified woman" and begot Moumin. Tuan Mashā′ikha died in 710 A.H. (equivalent to 1310 AD), and was buried in Bud Dato near Jolo, with an inscription of Tuan Maqbālū.^[19]

A descendant of Tuan Mashā′ikha named Tuan May also begot a son named Datu Tka. The descendants of Tuan May did not assume the title tuan, instead, they started to use datu. It is the first time datu was used as a political institution.^[17][20]

During the coming of Tuan Mashā′ikha, the Tagimaha people (literally means "the party of the people") coming from Basilan and several places in Mindanao, also arrived and settled in Buansa. After the Tagimaha came the Baklaya people (which means "seashore dwellers") and believed to be originated from Sulawesi, and settled in Patikul. After these came the Bajau people (or Samal) from Johor. The Bajau were accidentally driven towards Sulu by a heavy monsoon, some of them to the shores of Brunei and others to Mindanao.^[21] The population of Buranun, Tagimaha, and Baklaya in Sulu created three parties with distinct system of government and subjects. At least in 1417, according to Chinese annals, three kings (or monarchs) ruled three civilized kingdoms in the island.^[22] Patuka Pahala (Paduka Batara) ruled the eastern kingdom, he was the most powerful; the west kingdom was ruled by Mahalachi (Maharajah Kamal ud-Din); and the kingdom near the cave (or Cave King) was Paduka Patulapok.^[23] The Bajau settlers were distributed among the three kingdoms.^[24]

Moumin's descendants, the son of Tuan Mashā′ikha populated Sulu. After some time, a certain Timway Orangkaya Su'il was mentioned by the second page of tarsila, that he received four Bisaya slaves (People from the Confederation of Madja-as) from Manila (presumably Dynasty of Tondo) as a sign of friendship between the two countries. The descendants of Timway Orangkaya Su'il then inherited the title timway, which means "chief". On tarsila's third page, it accounts the fact that the slaves were the ancestors of the inhabitants in the island to Parang, Lati, Gi'tung, and Lu'uk respectively. The fourth page then narrates the coming of the Buranun (addressed in the tarsila as "the Maimbung people") Tagimaha, Baklaya, then the drifted Bajau immigrants from Johor.^[25]

The condition of Sulu before the arrival of Islam can be summarized as such: The island was inhabited by several cultures, and was reigned over by three independent kingdoms ruled by the Buranun, Tagimaha, and Baklaya peoples. Likewise, the socio-political systems of these kingdoms were characterized by several distinct institutions: rajahship, datuship, tuanship and timwayship. The arrival of Tuan Mashā′ikha afterwards established a core Islamic community in the island.

Islamization and establishment

At the end of 14th century, a notable Arab judge and religious scholar named Karim ul-Makhdum^{[note 7]} from Mecca arrived in the Malacca Sultanate. He preached Islam to the people, and thus many citizens, including the ruler of Malacca, converted to Islam.^[26]

Chinese Muslims and Arabs introduced Sulu and other Muslim sultanates to Islam. Chinese Muslim merchants participated in the local commerce, and the Sultanate had diplomatic relations with China during the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), being involved in the tribute system. The Sulu leader Paduka Batara and his sons moved to China, where he passed away and Chinese Muslims brought up his sons.^[27]

In 1380 AD,^{[note 8]} Karim ul-Makhdum arrived in Simunul island from Malacca, again with Arab traders. Apart from being a scholar, he operated as a trader, some see him as a Sufi missionary originating from Mecca.^[28] He preached Islam in the area, and was thus accepted by the core Muslim community. He was the second person who preached Islam in the area, following after Tuan Mashā′ikha. To facilitate easy conversion of nonbelievers, he established a mosque in Tubig-Indagan, Simunul, which became the first Islamic temple to be constructed in the area, as well as the first in the Philippines. This later became known as Sheik Karimal Makdum Mosque.^[29] He died in Sulu, though the exact location of his grave is unknown. In Buansa, he was known as Tuan Sharif Awliyā.^[13] On his alleged grave in Bud Agad, Jolo, an inscription was written as "Mohadum Aminullah Al-Nikad". In Lugus, he is referred to Abdurrahman. In Sibutu, he is known to as his name.^[30]

The different of beliefs on his grave locations came about due to the fact that Karim ul-Makhdum travelled to several islands in Sulu Sea to preach Islam. In many places in the archipelago, he was beloved. It is said that the people of Tapul built a mosque honoring him and that they claim descent from Karim ul-Makhdum. Thus, the success of Karim ul-Makhdum of spreading Islam in Sulu threw a new light in Islamic history in the Philippines. The customs, beliefs and political laws of the people changed and customized to adopt the Islamic tradition.^[31]

Spanish and British annexations

(Left) The first concession treaty was signed by Brunei Sultan, Abdul Momin, appointing Baron de Overbeck as the Maharaja Sabah, Rajah Gaya and Sandakan which signed on 29th December 1877.^[5]
(Right) The second concession treaty was signed by Sultan Jamalalulazam of Sulu also appointing Baron de Overbeck as Dato Bendahara and Raja Sandakan on 22nd January 1878, which about three weeks after the first treaty was signed.^[6]

In the 18th century, Sulu's dominion covered most of northeastern part of Borneo. However areas like Tempasuk and Abai had never really shown much allegiance to its earlier ruler, Brunei, subsequently similar treatment was given to Sulu. Dalrymple who made a treaty of allegiance in 1761 with Sulu, had to make a similar agreement with the rulers of Tempasuk and Abai on the north Borneo coast in 1762.^[32]

The territory ceded to Sulu by Brunei initially stretched south to Tapean Durian (now Tanjong Mangkalihat) (another source mentioned the southern most boundary is at Dumaring),^[33] near the Straits of Macassar (now Kalimantan). However by 1800–1850, these area had been effectively controlled by the Sultanate of Bulungan in Kalimantan, reducing the boundary of Sulu to a cape named Batu Tinagat and Tawau River.^[34]

In 1848 and 1851, the Spanish launched attacks on Balangingi and Jolo respectively. A peace treaty was signed on 30 April 1851 in which the sultan could only regain its capital if Sulu and its dependencies became a part of the Philippine Islands under the sovereignty of Spain. There were different understandings of this treaty, in which although the Spanish interpreted it as the sultan accepted Spanish sovereignty, the sultan took it as a friendly treaty amongst equals.^[35] International Court of Justice in 2003 nevertheless observes that, undisputedly, the Sultan of Sulu relinquished the sovereign rights over all his possessions in favour of Spain, based on Bases of Peace and Capitulation signed by Sultan of Sulu and Spain in Jolo on 22 July 1878.^[36][37]

On 22 January 1878, an agreement was signed between the Sultanate of Sulu and British commercial syndicate (Alfred Dent and Baron von Overback), which stipulated that North Borneo was either ceded or leased (depending on translation used) to the British syndicate in return for payment of 5000 Malayan Dollar per year.^[38][39]

On 22 April 1903 His Majesty Sultan Jamalul Kiram signed a document known as "Confirmation of cession of certain islands", under what he either grant and ceded or leased additional islands in the neighbourhood of the mainland of North Borneo from Banggi Island to Sibuku Bay to British North Borneo Company. The sum 5,000 dollars a year payable every year increased to 5,300 dollars a year payable every year.

Madrid Protocol

The Sulu Sultanate later came under the control of Spain in Manila. In 1885, Great Britain, Germany and Spain signed the Madrid Protocol to cement Spanish influence over the islands of the Philippines. In the same agreement, Spain relinquished all claim to North Borneo which had belonged to the Sultanate in the past.^[41]

The Spanish Government renounces, as far as regards the British Government, all claims of sovereignty over the territories of the continent of Borneo, which belong, or which have belonged in the past to the Sultan of Sulu (Jolo), and which comprise the neighbouring islands of Balambangan, Banguey, and Malawali, as well as all those comprised within a zone of three maritime leagues from the coast, and which form part of the territories administered by the Company styled the “British North Borneo Company.”

—Article III, Madrid Protocol of 1885

Decline

The Sultanate's power was relinquished in March 1915 after American commanders negotiated with Sultan Jamalul Kiram on behalf of then-Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison. An agreement was subsequently signed and was called as the "Carpenter Agreement". By this agreement, the Sultan relinquished all temporal power over territory within the Philippines (except for certain specific land granted to Sultan Jamalul Kiram and his heirs), but retained his rights of sovereignty over the territory of North Borneo and his religious authority as titular head of the Islamic Church in Sulu.^[42][43]

Economy

Weapons and slave trade

Chinese who lived in Sulu ran guns across a Spanish blockade to supply the Moro Datus and Sultanates with weapons to fight the Spanish, who were engaging in a campaign to subjugate the Moro sultanates on Mindanao. A trade involving the Moros selling slaves and other goods in exchange for guns developed. The Chinese had entered the economy of the sultanate, taking almost total control of the Sultanate's economies in Mindanao and dominating the markets. Though the Sultans did not like one group of people exercising exclusive control over the economy, he did business with them. The Chinese set up a trading network between Singapore, Zamboanga, Jolo and Sulu.

The Chinese sold small arms like Enfield and Spencer Rifles to the Buayan Datu Uto. They were used to battle the Spanish invasion of Buayan. The Datu paid for the weapons in slaves.^[44] The population of Chinese in Mindanao in the 1880s was 1,000. The Chinese ran guns across a Spanish blockade to sell to Mindanao Moros. The purchases of these weapons were paid for by the Moros in slaves in addition to other goods. The main group of people selling guns were the Chinese in Sulu. The Chinese took control of the economy and used steamers to ship goods for exporting and importing. Opium, ivory, textiles, and crockery were among the other goods which the Chinese sold.

The Chinese on Maimbung sent the weapons to the Sulu Sultanate, who used them to battle the Spanish and resist their attacks. A Chinese was one of the Sultan's brother in laws, the Sultan was married to his sister. He and the Sultan both owned shares in the ship (named the Far East) which helped smuggle the weapons.^[45]

The Spanish launched a surprise offensive under Colonel Juan Arolas in April 1887 by attacking the Sultanate's capital at Maimbung in an effort to crush resistance. Weapons were captured and the property of the Chinese were destroyed while the Chinese were deported to Jolo.^[46]

Culture

Social class system

Among the people of Sultanate of Sulu, the title of nobility could be acquired only by lineage, a "closed system" whereby the titled persons inherit their offices of powers and prestige.

There are two main social classes in Royal Sultanate of Sulu:^[47]

• Datu (su-sultanun), which is acquired purely by lineage to the sultanate. Whereas, all male members of the Royal House of Sulu should hold this hereditary title and should hold the style: His Royal Highness or His Highness, according to the traditional customs of Royal House of Sulu. Whereas, their spouses should automatically hold the title of Dayang Dayang (princess of the first degree) and should hold the style: Her Royal Highness or Her Highness.

• Datu Sadja, which may be acquired through confirming the titles (gullal) on the middleman of the Sultan. The gullal is made if a commoner has achieved outstanding feats or services in line of duty through display of bravery, heroism, etc. Datu Sadja is life title of nobility and the title holders should hold the style: His Excellency. Whereas their spouses should hold the title of Dayang and should hold the style: Her Excellency.

The commoners or Maharlika are those who do not trace their descent from royalty. The Wakil Kesultan's, Panglimas, Parkasa's and Laksaman's who are commoners hold responsible positions involving administrative matters.

• Wakil Kesultanan – region representative outside Royal Sulu Sultanate
• Panglima – region representative inside Royal Sulu Sultanate
• Parkasa – aide-de-camp of region representative inside Royal Sulu Sultanate
• Laksaman – sub region representative inside Royal Sulu Sultanate

The males who hold offices above shall be addressed by the title of nobility Tuan (the title is directly attached to the office), followed by the rank of the office they hold, their given name, surname and region.

The females who hold offices above shall be addressed by the title of nobility Sitti (the title is directly attached to the office), followed by the rank of the office they hold, their given name, surname and region.

North Borneo dispute

W. C. Cowie, managing director of BNBC with the Sultan of Sulu.

The North Borneo dispute is a territorial claim by the Philippines over much of the eastern part of Sabah in Malaysia. Sabah was known as North Borneo prior to the formation of the Malaysian federation in 1963. The Philippines, via the heritage of the Sultanate of Sulu, claim Sabah on the basis that Sabah was only leased to the British North Borneo Company with the sultanate's sovereignty never being relinquished.

This dispute stems from the difference in the interpretation used on an agreement signed between Sultanate of Sulu and the British commercial syndicate (Alfred Dent and Baron von Overback) in 1878, which stipulated that North Borneo was either ceded or leased (depending on translation used) to the British chartered company in return for payment of 5,000 dollars per year.

However, Malaysia views this dispute as a "non-issue", as it not only considers the agreement in 1878 as one of cession, but it also deems that the residents had exercised their act of self-determination when they voted to join the Malaysian federation in 1963.^[48][49] As reported by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the independence of North Borneo was brought about as the result of the expressed wish of the majority of the people of the territory as supported by the findings of the Cobbold Commission.^[50]

Every year, the Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines issues a check in the amount of 5,300 ringgit (US$1710 or about 77,000 Philippine pesos) to the legal counsel of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu. Malaysia considers the amount an annual "cession" payment for the disputed state, while the sultan's descendants consider it "rent".^[51]

Recent Sultans

Although the Sultanate is no longer officially recognized by any state as a sovereign entity, many individuals continue to claim the title of Sultan of Sulu and/or Sultan of North Borneo, often with documentation that would seem to support their claims.^[52]

The website of the provincial government of Sulu recognizes Ismael Kiram II as the present Sultan.^[53]

Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, another claimant, has insisted on the legitimacy of his succession as the 35th Sultan of Sulu. He cites Memorandum Order 427 of 1974, in which former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos recognized his father, Sultan Mahakuttah A. Kiram, as Sulu ruler.This misnomer makes the kin of Mahakuttah Kiram claim the hierarchial throne based on President Marcos mis proclamation while Punjungan Kiram is in Sabah through the insisting of Abraham Rasul, the husband of Santanina Rasul,which prompted President Marcos withdraw his proclamation to Mahakuttah when Punjungan present the "Grant Letter o f Administration of Sabah", the presentation of the "Grant Letter of Sabah Administration to president Marcos has said infuriated Malacanang.The fact that president Marcos is a political leader has no power to proclaim any sultan of Sulu, because it is based on blood line of hierarchy and instead recognized Punjungan Kiram supported by legal Documents ^[54][55] The memo states that he is the eldest son of the said Sultan.^[56] His grandfather was Sultan Esmail E. Kiram (recognized by Philippine government^{[citation needed]}), his great grandfather was Sultan Muwallil Wasit II and his great grand uncle was Sultan Jamalul Kiram I.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram has received foreign recognition for his claim such as the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry (ICOC).^[57][58] He is a relative of Jamalul Kiram III.^[58]

Datu Mohamad Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad, a Malaysian businessman, proclaimed himself as the 33rd Sultan of Sulu in 2011.^[52][59] Other noted claimants include Datu Abdul Rajak Aliuddin^[52] and Datuk Seri Putra Eddy T. Sulaiman.^[60]

Gallery

See also

• 2013 Lahad Datu standoff
• Sultanate of Malacca
• Sultanate of Maguindanao
• List of Sultans of Sulu
• John C. Bates
• List of Sunni Muslim dynasties
• North Borneo dispute

Notes

References

General

• Ang, Josiah C., Historical Timeline of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu Including Related Events of Neighboring Peoples, Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University 
• Campbell, Lawrence Dundas (2007), The Asiatic Annual Register: or, A View of the History of Hindustan, and of the Politics, Commerce and Literature of Asia 6, University of Michigan 
• World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia 9, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7614-7642-9 
• Council of Regents (2010), Primer in the Matter of Assertion of Independence of the State of Sulu Sultanate Darul Islam on 17 November 2010, Sultanate of Darul Islam 
• Decasa, George C. (1999), The Qur'ānic Concept of Umma and its Function in Philippine Muslim Society, Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, ISBN 978-88-7652-812-5 
• Gonda, Jan (1975), Religionen: Handbuch der Orientalistik: Indonesien, Malaysia und die Philippinen unter Einschluss der Kap-Malaien in Südafrika 2, E.J. Brill, ISBN 978-90-04-04330-5 
• Ibrahim, Ahmad; Sharon Siddique, Yasmin Hussain (1985), Readings on Islam in Southeast Asia, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, ISBN 978-9971-988-08-1  Cite uses deprecated parameters (help)
• Keppel, Henry, The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Didio for the Suppression of Piracy, Reprinted by The Forgotten Books, ISBN 978-1-4400-7547-6 
• Larousse, William (2001), A Local Church Living for Dialogue: Muslim-Christian Relations in Mindanao-Sulu, Philippines : 1965–2000, Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, ISBN 978-88-7652-879-8 
• Majul, César Adib (1973), Muslims in the Philippines, University of the Philippines Press 
• Saleeby, Najeeb Mitry (1908), The History of Sulu, Bureau of Printing 
• Saunders, Graham E. (2002), A History of Brunei, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-7007-1698-2 
• Scott, William Henry (1994), Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society, Ateneo de Manila University Press, ISBN 978-971-550-135-4 
• Tan, Samuel K. (2009), A History of the Philippines, University of the Philippines Press, ISBN 978-971-542-568-1 
• Tan, Samuel K. (2010), The Muslim South and Beyond, University of the Philippines Press, ISBN 978-971-542-632-9 
• United Nations Publications (2002), Case concerning sovereignty over Palau Ligitan and Palau Sipidan (Indonesia/Malaysia). Judgment of 17 December 2002. International Court of Justice Series. Issue 858 of Recueil des arrêts, avis consultatifs et ordonnances. Reports of judgments, advisory opinions and orders, United Nations Publications, ISBN 978-92-1-070964-4 

External links

• Line of succession of the Sultans of Sulu of the Modern Era as published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines
• Philippine Provincial Government of Sulu – The official list of Sultans
• The official website of Royal House of Sulu under the guidance of Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, 35th Sultan of Sulu

v t e Historical and present-day states in the Philippines     Pre-16th century c.900–1589 Kingdom of Tondo c.950–1600s Kingdom of Butuan c.1000–1571 Kingdom of Namayan c.1450–1917 Sultanate of Sulu c.1300–1800 Sultanate of Maguindanao 16th century c.1500–1571 Kingdom of Maynila 1565–1898 Las islas Filipinas 17th century Lanao sultanates 18th century 1762–1764 British Manila 19th century 1870s–1980s Morac-Songhrati-Meads (contested) 1896–1897 Bayang Katagalugan (Katipunan) 1898–1901 Republic of Negros 1899–1903 República de Zamboanga 1899–1901 First Philippine Republic 1900–1945 1899–1913 American military government 1902–1906 Republikang Tagalog 1935–1946 Commonwealth of the Philippines 1943–1945 Second Philippine Republic 1945–present 1946–1981 Third Republic 1960s Bangsamoro 1981–1986 Fourth Republic 1986–present Fifth Republic See also Category:Former countries in Philippine history.

Coordinates: 6°03′07″N 121°00′07″E / 6.05194°N 121.00194°E / 6.05194; 121.00194